Wednesday, November 12, 2008

JUMOKE VERISSIMO: Her sweet fart at Lagos Book Festival


. Jumoke performing Ajani at the festival


. Jumoke with guests (Her Mum, Sister, and another poet, Ambassador) at the LABAF presentation

By Akeem Lasisi


Each time some of her friends want to make a mischievous poem of her surname, Verismo, they pronounce it as ‘very-small‘. Actor and culture activist, Ropo Ewenla, is particularly guilty of this. What they play upon whenever they pronounce the name so is the modest frame of the Lagos-based writer, Jumoke Verisimo, who is also a copywriter with a Lagos-based advertising agency.

Despite such a joke, however, many people know that in her is the promise of a good poet, one of those who should shape the future of literature in Nigeria.

After about 10 years of active poetry writing and performance, Verisimo had a great day in Lagos on Saturday, when the just-concluded Lagos Book and Art Festival featured her as reading poet of the moment. The fact is that apart from providing an avenue to celebrate books, LABAF, organised by the Committee for Relevant Arts, promotes virtually all areas of the arts. This is one of the factors that differentiate it from other book fairs. Amidst inspiring talks on the art and science of Lagos – where popular writer and activist, Odia Ofeimun, participated and Crown Troupe of Africa performed – LABAF had mounted the stage to announce to the world the arrival of her first collection of poem, I am Memory, from where she read a couple of poems.

Among such was Ajani, the only love poem in the collection. Verisimo confesses that the man she addresses in the poem had, truly been a lover of hers. Yet, she will not want the reader to be carried away in terms of how close poetry is with love.

”My position on what poetry is and what it is not, is primarily subject to emotional interpretation. Poetry could as well be the food of hate, emotion, whatever it is prompts the reader to dig deeper than he‘d normally do on an average, unfeeling day. The passion which could generate a poem on love could also bring one on hate,” she says.



.Jumoke's mum at the LABAF presentation.. Joy of a Mother

Verisimo got into poetry through a little unusual way. According to her, she did not start out to write poetry in the beginning. She just wanted to spill out things she felt inside her. She says, ”I developed this flair for writing from reading, parents, school, teachers, environment, and I just began to write. I just started to write something and at the time, I couldn‘t have called it poetry per se. But now, I‘ll say poetry for me is not simply about lines in metrical forms, it is about a sigh. It is dramatic, and living. You know the way we‘ll say that there‘s poetry on the streets, I‘ll say, writing something that evokes genuine feeling that someone else can feel is poetry for me. At the moment, I am working on a novel.”

On what her focus is as a poet, she notes that she writes about whatever things that get close to her nerves. ”I am emotive,” she says, ”so, my writing is usually about things I feel strongly about, and many times these things are what the average mind would say is inexplicable. To me, it starts out as beyond me, but I question and question it. For me, poetry is a living thing. It is all around me, and it is always new to me.”

At the LABAF show, where her mother was present to celebrate with her, the lady who read English at Lagos State University also rendered a poem for which she is mostly known, “Mo fe so – a Yoruba statement that translates as I want to fart.” It is a poem that has beaten the audience for years.


.Jumoke performing from I'Memory

She says, “Mo fe so questions my plight as a Nigerian youth. It confronts my insecurity and frustration, and my desire to show my contempt for the problems faced. I didn‘t set out that Mo fe so, should be a poem, and I still won‘t call it a poem. “I‘ll say it is a performance of frustration. I‘m still pissed at certain quarters, but like many youths, I have learnt that our society teaches independence, and how you achieve that independence is not subject to questions. I am a very angry young woman, because I have seen a lot of fantastic minds depraved of opportunities, and others are snuffed so their chances of survival takes them from who they set out to be. I still want to fart, into the faces of those in high places. I‘ll like to fart and ease my pain.”

Published by Designs, Agency and Dreams, I am Memory started out as a poem on reparation. But, according to Verisimo, ‘maturity‘ and reading made her to understand that reparation is not all about slavery and the likes.



EniOlorutidakosefarawekosefenutembelekosebinukosena'kaiwosisiwiwolaawo

JOIN THE FEAST:

11TH LAGOS BOOK & ART FESTIVAL, LABAF09, Nov. 6-8, 2009

ADDRESS: CORA HOUSE Plot 95, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos. Nigeria. Tel: 00234 (1) 6653587. labaf08@gmail.com, stampedecora@gmail.com, cora2stamp@yahoo.co.uk

Images from the Lagos Book and Art Festival, Nov 7-9, 2008 at the national Theatre, Lagos (1)


















JOIN THE FEAST:

11TH LAGOS BOOK & ART FESTIVAL, LABAF09, Nov. 6-8, 2009

ADDRESS: CORA HOUSE Plot 95, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos. Nigeria. Tel: 00234 (1) 6653587. labaf08@gmail.com, stampedecora@gmail.com, cora2stamp@yahoo.co.uk

Monday, November 10, 2008

CORA INAUGURATION AND LABAF 08


The CORA`new identity unveiled at the formal inauguration of the organisation on Wednesday november 5, 2008 at 10A Ikoya Avenue, off Macpherson Ikoyi before a distinguished audience that included the renowned physician and founder of the Sickle Cell Foundation, Prof and Mrs Akinyanju, former minister of National Planning, Dr Rasheed Gbadamosi, the renowned public intellectual and former Presidential candidate of the Peoples Progressive Aliance, Prof Pat Utomi, Iya Adinni of Central Mosque, Surulere, Hajia Zainab Abbah Folawiyo, the MD of Integrated Macrofinance Bank Ltd, Dr Doyin Abiola,former Deputy Editor of The Guardian, Ben Tomoloju, the famous Designer, Theo Lawson, the General manager of Bang & Olufsen, Chinwe Uwatse and a host of other distinguished Nigerians.



SCENES FROM THE 10th LAGOSS BOOK & ART FESTIVAL WHICH HELD NOVEMBER 7-9 IN THE EXHIBITION HALL OF THE NATIONAL THEATRE, LAGOS.



Tuesday, November 04, 2008

The Feast of Book & Art Begins In Lagos



DAY 1

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2008

7am: Exhibition already set up

9am : Formal Opening of CHILDREN FESTIVAL
VISUAL REPRESENTATION FROM ‘THINGS FALL APART’
:Exhibition and comic Workshop.

10am : “My Encounter with the Book” by Funmi Iyanda

11am: “Green Graffiti” Workshop – Karo Akpokiere & Chukwuma Ngene
“Green Tales” Workshop – Obari Gomba & Adeleke Adeyemi
Theme: “Lagos on My Mind”- [Organized by LC3 in collaboration with CATE/CORA].

11.30am: The Festival Tour (where kids and their teachers are taken round the grounds of the Fair).



Children on duty at the festival last year

12 noon: YOUTH ON LITERACY

Theme: WHAT DO THE YOUTH DESIRE TO READ

(Panel Discussion on “Youth, Creativity and Development”) with established artists and active young people such as:
•Mrs Nike Davies-Okundaye: (Director, Nike Centre for Arts and Culture)
•Dr. Hope Eghagha: (Lecturer, Dept. of English, Unilag)
•Odion Ogogo: (Director, Heritage Ceramics)
•Tunde Aboderin: (Director, Mobile Cinema Crew)
•Denrele Edun: (presenter, Sound City)
•Segun Adefila: (director, Crown Troupe)
•Oyiza Adaba (Director, Africa Related)
•Kaffy Shafau: (Dance Director)
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2pm: COLLOQUIUM • Theme: WARS WITHOUT END: THE CHILD SOLDIER AS THE NEW HERO IN THE EMERGING AFRICAN NOVEL
Reviews, readings and discussions of Novels, and Non Fiction Works including
i. Ahmadu Koroma's ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED ,
ii. Uzodima Iweala's BEASTS OF NO NATION;
iii. Helon Habila's MEASURING TIME,
iv. Biyi Bandele's BURMA BOY




3.pm: VISUAL ARTS SYMPOSIUM
• Theme: The visibility of Photography in the Nigerian Art Gallery Space
Keynote: TAM FIOFORI, veteran photographer,
Panel:
1. DON BARBER (rep PAN)
2. Rep, DEPTH OF FIELDS (James Uche-Iroha)
3. Rep: BLACK BOX (By Uche Okpa-Iroha)
4. Rep: ASSOCIATION OF GALLERIES OF NIGERIA
5. CHUKA NNABUIFE — Art writer
6. Victor Politis – Photography Enthusiast
7. Rep, Society of Nigerian Artists, SNA
8. Rep, Guild of Visual Artists

Moderator: Molara Wood, Writer, Journalist
Chairman: Kunle Filani
Special Guest: Chief Joe Musa, Director General, NGA
• Accompanying EXHIBITION on the theme: ‘The Energy of the City’
Featuring works by:
I. Members of PAN including Don Barber; Richard Enesi; Tam Fiofori; Okhai Ojeikere; and Adolphus Okpara
II. Members of DOF,
III. Members of Black Box and
IV. other photographers




DAY 2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2008
7am: Exhibition already set up

10am: Talking Books with Aunty Sola & Friends: A roundtable discussion on ‘Banana Leaves’ – a sequel to ‘Without A Silver Spoon’ by Eddie Iroh.

11am: Panel Discussion and Interactive Session on ‘Sanitation and Climate Change’ the theme of ‘The Green Book’, an anthology of environmental poems, prose and plays by children and young people of ages 7-16.



1pm: “Green Creative Art Workshops”
with Rosalie Modder; Uche James Iroha/Akin Oniti; Wale Asobiojo; Tina Mba; Sheriff Ojetunde/Nike Fagade; Nkechi Osili

11. 30am: OPENING RECEPTION: Dance, Music, Readings etc

1pm: Presentation of THE WEAVER'S COLLECTION

1.30pm: PANEL DISCUSSION

• Theme: AFRICA IN THE EYES OF THE OTHER
Readings and discussions of Novels, and Non-Fiction Works including

(i) Paul Theroux’s DARK STAR SAFARI,
(ii) V.S Naipul's HALF A LIFE,
(iii) Shiva Naipul's NORTH OF SOUTH,
(iv) Gil Courtemanche's A SATURDAY AT THE POOL IN KIGALI,
(v) Karl Maier's THIS HOUSE HAS FALLEN.

Moderator: UCHE NWORAH
(Author, The Bloody Machete; The Long Harmattan Season; Chasing The Shadow)

3pm: ARTHOUSE PARTIES
Music, Wine and Dance Party For:

* Filmmaker TUNDE KELANI at 60,
* Painter KOLADE OSHINOWO at 60
Actor * Zack Orji at 50.
* Writer KUNLE AJIBADE @ 50
* Dancer ARNOLD UDOKA @ 50
* Designer HORGAN EKONG @ 50
(More names of “birthday people”, who have made significant contribution to the growth of culture production in the country, will be added)

4pm: SYMPOSIUM

• Theme: Dijns, Ghosts, Ghomids and Magical Spells: The reappearance of the Moonlight Tale in the New African Novel

* Zakes Mda's HEART OF REDNESS ,
*Andre Brink's IMAGININGS OF SAND,
*Ahmadou Koroma's ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED


Day 3

10- 2pm: Fashion Show
(Between Kowry Kreations and LCC)

3pm: ART STAMPEDE

Theme: When Is The Profitable Reading Market?

Panelists:
Toyin Tejuosho,
Otunba Lawal Solarin,
Muhtar Bakare,
Bibi Bakare Yusuf

Moderator: TONI KAN
(Author, A Ballad of Rage; When A Dream Lingers Too Long; A Night Of The Creaking Bed)

5pm : Presentation of Awards for participation

* This will be the result of the Green Book Contest published to mark National Creativity Day. It will be a contest whereby notable environmental authors will participate by 'writing' the 'first paragraph' of a poem, story or play to be completed by school kids. 21 winners of the contest will have their works published and launched during LABAF 2008.

Partners:
CATE. LCC. ART ZERO. CHILD CARE NETWORK. KOWRY KREATIONS
GIVE NETWORK

Supporters:
. National Gallery of Art
. National Theatre of Nigeria


AN EXPLOSION OF COMICS AND CARTOONS AT LABAF




The 4th Lagos Comics & Cartoons Carnival

The Lagos Comics & Cartoons Carnival is a self styled ultimate gathering of admirers, lovers and downright fanatics of comics, cartoons and animation. The 4th edition of the Lagos Comics & Cartoons Carnival holding at the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos from the 7th – 9th of November, 2008 as a part of the 10th Lagos Book & Art Festival organised by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) and is themed: Youth and the Creative Revolution.

Youth and the Creative Revolution
This year's theme captures effectively the mandate assumed by LC3's organizers to harness the creative energies of young people towards positive development particularly through socio-cultural and economic empowerment. In that regard, this year, we have tagged on to the ever vibrant, ever youthful and ever revolutionary hip-hop movement in our programme for the LC3 through our different collaborative activities which we have lined up with our partners for the three days.

PROGRAMME

DAY ONE (FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2008)

8:00 am – 9.00am: Participating exhibitors / collaborators set up their stands.

10:00 am – 10.30am: Official opening of the 4th Lagos Comics & Cartoons Carnival.

10.30 am - 3.00pm: Graffiti workshop and talks on creativity and the environment. Organized in collaboration with The British Council Lagos, Children And The Environment (CATE), Dream Arts & Design Agency and the African Artists’ Foundation. School children will get to practice their hands at graffiti under the guidance of visiting international graffiti artists and their home based peers.



3.00pm – 6.00pm: Interactive sessions / exchange for young artists with International Comic Book Artists from across Africa facilitated by the Center for Contemporary Art, Lagos CCA.

11.00 am – 6.00 pm: Screening of animated short flicks will hold for older folks who are not engaged with the children. Participants will talk shop on the screened flicks and the talks will be moderated by leading lights in the industry.

DAY TWO (SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2008)

8:00 am – 9.00am: Participating exhibitors/collaborators set up their stands.

10:00 am – 4.00pm: Words and Pictures (WAPI): The free expression event organized by the British Council Lagos will berth at LC3 with a major focus on hip-hop and its influence on comics, cartoons and animation.

DAY THREE (SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 2008)

8:00 am – 9.00am: Participating exhibitors / collaborators set up their stands.

10:00 am – 2.00 pm: Fashion show in collaboration with Kowrie Kreations Media featuring the works of young Nigerian designers and of course, costumes inspired by comics straight out of Nigeria. All attendees are encouraged to wear the costumes of their favourite local / international super-heroes.

2pm – 4pm: Music, dance, networking till close.


What interested participants should do:

Comic / cartoons publishers and artists are encouraged to book stands to exhibit their comic books, cartoon collections or portfolios by contacting us through the email addresses / phone numbers below. Networking is key to LC3.
Artists who are already involved / who have interests in comics and cartoons are invited to bring their portfolios on Saturday the 8th of November for the Interactive sessions / exchange for young artists with International Comic Book Artists from France and across Africa facilitated by the Center for Contemporary Art where they will have one-on-one interaction with these facilitators.
All lovers of comics, cartoons and animation – children and adults alike- are encouraged to wear their favourite super-heroes' costumes on Sunday the 9th of November for the fashion show. Home made costumes are also most welcome and the most ingeniously dressed attendees will get to strut their stuff down the catwalk, right on television!
Spread the word.
Collaborators:
• COMMITTEE FOR RELEVANT ART, CORA,
• THE BRITISH COUNCIL,
• CHILDREN CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (CATE),
• CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS, LAGOS, CCA
• DREAM ARTS & DESIGN AGENCY
• AFRICAN ARTISTS' FOUNDATION
• KOWRIE KREATIONS MEDIA

CONTACT US
For further information, please contact us though the following means:
Phone: 234-803-3000-499, 234-806-7421-215
Email: revolutionmedia@yahoo.com,lc3_05@yahoo.co.uk
url: http://www.naijacomics.blogspot.com/
Secretariat: CORA House, 1st Floor, 95 Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos.


AN EXTRA BOUNCE TO LAGOS COMICS SHOW

Professional Portfolio Review for Young Comic Artists at the 4th Lagos Comics & Cartoons Carnival

The Centre For Contemporary Art, Lagos (CCA Lagos) will be facilitating during the 10th Lagos Book and Art Festival an interactive session and creative exchange for young cartoonists and comic artists with visiting comic professionals from Africa and Europe at the 4th Lagos Comics & Cartoons Carnival. This programme is part of the educational component for the Picha. African Comics, an international touring exhibition featuring 19 comic artists from all over Africa opening at CCA,Lagos on the 8th of November and continues to 20th December 2008.
- Hide quoted text -
Young cartoonists and comic artists are invited to come with their portfolios to the main exhibition hall, by Entrance 'C' of the National Theatre Iganmu, Lagos, venue of the 4th Lagos Comics & Cartoons Carnival (which holds from the 7th till the 9th of November 2008) on Friday 7th November 2008 from 3pm till 6pm.
Two of the artists Kola Fayemi (Nigeria) and TT.Fons (Senegal) with curator of Picha Joost Pollman (Holland) and Caroline Vedhuizen (Holland) will take turns reviewing and discussing individually the works of the young cartoonists and comic artists in attendance after which will be held an interactive session with the general audience. This is a capacity building / cultural exchange initiative from the CCA in collaboration with the Lagos Comics & Cartoons Carnival and the Committee for Relevant Art.